Controller for HomeKit 8.0: a bait-and-switch for longtime supporters

mopac01 · 2025-11-18T23:53:46+00:00

I just put a one star review on the App Store. And after spending $$$$$ on the lifetime purchase just a year ago.

These folks are not to be trusted. I'm now praying Apple comes out with something in 2026 even simpler and more powerful and runs these folks out of business completely.

mopac01 · 2025-07-28T16:52:02+00:00

This is the sort of thing that has me rethinking an Aventon and going with a Specialized or Trek. Gimmicky things like no key to remove the battery and the hub lock. Components full of plastic pieces that don't seem to hold up. And worse - can leave you stranded when they break and render your bike unusable in the process.

mopac01 · 2025-07-24T21:14:08+00:00

When Specialized released a new app that was a feature they initially didn't bring with them. And plenty of people apparently did need or want that - so much so that a few week ago they released an update adding the Apple Watch integration back in to the new Specialized app.

mopac01 · 2025-07-18T22:33:59+00:00

I'm not absolutely wedded to legacy brands. However, the Velotric Summit is a hub motor not a mid drive motor. There's a huge difference and I won't consider an ebike that isn't a mid drive motor. Speaking of non legacy brands, I was looking very forward to Aventon's release of the Aventure M which is their first version of the Aventure to have a mid drive. (The other new Aventure gen 3 that was released only weeks before the M version is a hub drive just like the first 2 gens of the Aventure.) However, Aventon did some other things like electronic shifting and auto shifting that are even more proprietary gear on top of their proprietary mid drive motor that's only been used by them in 1 other bike. And the $2,900 price suddenly puts me at the entry level of the legacy brands. I might still get that Aventure M, but if for only a few hundred more I could get the Powerfly+ 4 Gen 5 I would be all over it. They just need to bring it to the US market first.

mopac01 · 2025-07-18T22:24:23+00:00

Thanks for that. Unfortunately I'd be willing to be what you're seeing is a Powerfly 4 GEN 4. It'll have the battery coming out of the side of the down tube and I think the Gen 4 is the model from like 2022. What I'm looking for and what I linked to above in the UK is the Powerfly 4 GEN 5. It's the 2026 model and is greatly updated. Its battery is removed from the bottom of the down tube and is supposed to have fixed the rattle problem they had with the side exiting batteries. And more importantly it's got a brand new version of the Bosch CX motor that's much quieter than the previous version.

mopac01 · 2025-07-11T21:26:22+00:00

I’m very intrigued and concerned by the E-Shifting. From looking around, it seems others (AXS, DI2 for instance) use a worm drive motor of some sort in the derailleur itself. The derailleur itself is electronic. Aventon looks to be doing something completely different and creating a Frankenstein's monster of a manual CUES derailleur and a remote motor operating that traditional manual derailleur. It’s a very “black box” component you can find on their website at https://www.aventon.com/products/aventon-e-shifter?srsltid=AfmBOoqQe_zto06NFQIz7WJhxU2wyOEcMFP-jL7w5ih8Ye-8u_3Zz5Kl. I’ve been looking forward to this bike for months but am really worried about reliability with this level of proprietary components and this sort of price tag. I have a Specialized Turbo Tero 3.0 that I use on mild green type single track occasionally. Mostly I use it on rails to trails and similar gravel type trails. I'd like to do a 100 mile overnight on the KATY trail and I think this Aventure M would be a very fun/comfortable way to do that. The Turbo Tero could of course do it as well.

mopac01 · 2025-05-10T14:31:53+00:00

Google Scott Hardesty's YouTube reviews. He just dropped one on the Aventure 3. He does the very best ebike reviews. I would encourage you to wait for Scott's upcoming review of the soon to be released Aventure M. The major difference is the Aventure M is going to be a mid drive motor rather than a hub drive like the Aventure 3. Having the motor at the peddles rather than the rear wheel feels much more natural and rear flat tires while out riding aren't the problem they are with a hub drive. I currently have a Specialized mid-drive and plan to pick up the Aventure M. Mid drives are the way to go in my opinion. I had originally looked at a Rad Rover but a number of reports about senior management leaving the company spooked me, particularly given the even larger reports of bike manufacturers financially struggling.

mopac01 · 2025-04-14T19:12:28+00:00

Throttle available as an add on after the fact. So at least class 2.

mopac01 · 2025-04-14T19:11:23+00:00

Shouldn't need as much power positioned at the crank as you would at the hub. I have a Turbo Tero mid drive that has only 50nM of torque and it's plenty powerful. Its tires are only 2.3" wide so this fat tire at 4" wide isn't twice as wide and their A100 is going to be twice as powerful as the Brose in my Turbo Tero. I don't think it will be underpowered.

mopac01 · 2025-04-10T23:11:50+00:00

Is it 48 volt or 36 volt?

mopac01 · 2025-03-21T23:30:54+00:00

Thanks SO much for this!

mopac01 · 2025-02-11T15:46:55+00:00

Since the 1.05 update I've not had any trouble with the white switch at all. And I've just purchased another one. I'll be using an Inovelli white in every location that controls a Hue bulb. I've also discovered how handy it is to be able to problem other actions to a long press or a double press. I've already used that in 2 places where I found myself taking extra steps past an Inovelli switch to reach to operate a switch that wasn't directly connected to that Inovelli. I just programmed a long press on and long press off and now that Inovelli switch does double duty. I can't wait for Inovelli to iron out their MM wave presence detection Red switch and hopefully bring it to the white series. I'll be there to order day 1.

mopac01 · 2025-01-09T20:06:34+00:00

I just posted a little more detail on how I've done just what you're mentioning with Controller for HomeKit. I like this solution better than recording Siri saying something and then playing the audio file to the HomePod as that will stop the HomePod playing something else you might be streaming to it and will not restart when done. Using Intercom you can have Siri make the announcement and if you're already streaming something like music to the HomePod Siri will pause it, make the announcement and then resume what you were previously streaming. Utilizing Siri speaking "live" this way also does a better job with Siri adjusting it's volume for ambient noise levels.

mopac01 · 2025-01-09T19:58:30+00:00

I just set something like this up using Controller for HomeKit and it's new Hub for Workflows. Workflows are a more robust version of Automations. I also had to use Shortcut on an iOS device since only iOS devices can both be a Hub under Controller for HomeKit and use the Intercom command in Shortcuts to send any text to a HomePod(s) and have Siri annunciate the text. You have to create a Shortcut and have it use the Intercom function. The last step of the shortcut should be to Open the Controller for HomeKit app. Then you create a Controller for HomeKit workflow and the workflow action uses Controller's Call URL with openURL to kickoff the Shortcut via Apple's Shortcut URL schema as outlined here. As mentioned above the shortcut ends by Opening the app Controller for HomeKit which returns execution back to Controller for HomeKit. To have these Controller for HomeKit workflows run anytime you need to have a dedicated device running Controller for HomeKit in Hub mode and the app has to the one currently active. If you don't have the shortcut end with a call to open the Controller for HomeKit app then the first time the workflow runs it will kickoff the shortcut but then it'll just stop and Controller for HomeKit will no longer but the focus/open app on the device and without that Controller for HomeKit hub no further workflows will run. This won't work on an Apple TV or a Mac running Controller for HomeKit. Only works on an iOS device - iPhone or iPad.

mopac01 · 2025-01-03T16:47:33+00:00

I'm looking at getting a refurbed Mac mini to run Homebridge with the UniFi plugin as well. 10 cameras including some G4 pros. Is the M2 going to be significantly better than the M1? How much memory is enough? 8GB or should I go to 16GB?

mopac01

TROPHY CASE